RIYADH — The Council of Ministers lauded the Kingdom's keenness in resolving the Syrian crisis through political means and its decision to host the Syrian opposition conference in response to a request from the majority of countries belonging to the Vienna II Group. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman chaired the weekly session of the Cabinet at Al-Yamama Palace here on Monday afternoon. In a statement to the Saudi Press Agency following the session, Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi said the Cabinet welcomed the Kingdom's hosting of moderate Syrian factions who represent different ethnic, sectarian and political segments and factions within and outside Syria to take part in an expanded meeting in Riyadh scheduled for Dec. 8-10. The Kingdom extended invitations on the basis of consultations with most of its active partners on the global arena, as well as with the UN envoy to Syria so as to enable the Syrian opposition to hold negotiations independently and come out with a unified position on the basis of the Geneva I Declaration. Al-Turaifi said the Cabinet denounced the horrific terrorist attack in which the governor of Aden was killed. It described the act as an addition to the series of terrorist crimes committed against Yemen and its people. While slamming the recent terror attacks in the US city of St Bernardino, California, the Cabinet called for concerted global efforts to fight the scourge of terror, which never receives the approval of any divine religion, local customs or international charters. After reviewing a study on the continuing depletion of water for fodder irrigation, the Cabinet instructed the suspension of cultivation of green fodder for a period of three years. The ministry of agriculture has been directed to carry out a comprehensive study covering all aspects of the issue and making available alternative fodder at reasonable price, and present the report to the King within 90 days.
